XV Open Society Forum will Discuss Russia’s Influence in its Neighborhood

The forum's main speaker, Yulia Latynina is one of the most recognized opinion leaders in Russia today. Her straightforward comments have gained attention in Russia as well as abroad. Currently Latynina works for the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, TV channel RTVi and radio station Echo of Moscow. She also regularly writes for several Russian internet magazines.

Oleg Kozlovsky is a young Russian civil rights activist, one of the leaders of the „Solidarity“ movement and a co-founder of the democratic youth movement „Oborona“. He has participated in the Other Russia opposition coalition and brought together Russian democratic and civil society forces numerous times, organizing Dissenters Marches and other demonstrations to fight for civil rights and democracy in Russia.

At the Open Society Forum, Yulia Latynina will explain the chronology of reforms in Russia and the choices that could help understand today's Russia. Together, Latynina and Kozlovsky will present their view of the current situation in Russia and analyze Russia's demonstrations of power in its neighboring countries, trying to answer the following questions: Which internal and foreign policy strategies is Moscow planning today? To what extent are Russia's relations with its neighbors related to its internal policy goals? Why is the Russian administration becoming increasingly hostile towards its long-time partner, the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko? What are Russia's ambitions in Georgia, Central Asia and the Baltics? Why have these ideologies and wars of influence earned public support and what are its implications to democracy in Russia?